Thought of the Day !!

Today's thought is simply this. Be positive. Being negative about things makes for a negative day and a negative person. Have you ever noticed that positive people seem to be much more happy people than those who are always negative. It's because this life is what we make of it. We can be positive in ALL situations and find goodness and joy. Or we can be negative and be clouded by only the bad and all that comes with it. What will you be today?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: "Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked him. "Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.'
The man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young."
When Jesus heard his answer, he said, "There is still one thing you haven't done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.
Luke 18:18-23 (NLT)

The problem with the rich leader is not that he has wealth, but that the wealth is so important to him. Jesus has told us to take up our cross and deny ourselves. He speaks openly about humility and serving as opposed to being proud of what we've got. Wealth is not a problem, but if it's just too hard to give up what we have to help someone else, then what we have is coming between us and God.

The same can be said about our time. If we decide that we're going to spend the bulk of our time doing something that we love there is no problem. But if we cannot give this up so that we can serve God, then it's become a hindrance. You can say this about anything that might come between us and God's calling on our lives.

The question is, "What do we have that we could not do without if God so desired it?" Is there anything coming between you and God because it's become more important than God in your life?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.'

"But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'

"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

Do you remember those teen movies or TV shows where the kid with glasses and older clothes, having a low self-esteem comes into the cafeteria? The kid goes to put his/her tray down at a table and is told right off that he/she is at the wrong table and directed to the table where other kids like him/her are at.

Kids can be so mean, can't they? They can form groups and proclaim that they're better than the other groups. But then again, can it not be the same with adults?

I've heard of denominations that believe people, even Christians, are going to hell if they don't join their denomination. I've seen people, who go to church on Sunday, look down on people at work because of their position, color or level of education. I've had bosses (before going into the ministry) that treated me like an object instead of a human being. And I've read in my bible about a religious man who prayed to God and said "Thank you Lord that I'm not as bad as that person over there that is far beneath me."

Have you ever been looked down on by someone? How did it feel? Do you think you've ever looked down on somebody else and thought about how they weren't as good as you? How do you think God felt?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Don't speak evil against each other, my dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize each other and condemn each other, then you are criticizing and condemning God's law.
James 4:11 (NLT)

How many times during the week will we be given the opportunity to say something ugly about someone? How many times will somebody make us mad and "deserve" an unkind rebuke? How many times will we want to explode into a tirade of "colorful metaphors" when somebody messes up our order at the drive-thru?

We are given many opportunities to give in to anger, jealousy, envy and a whole host of other things that stem from hatred, which is what all these can eventually lead to if not held in check. When given the opportunity, will you give in to the temptation to speak evil against someone? Or will you rise above the situation, relying on the strength of God and remembering your own imperfections, to hold your tongue (or your thoughts if that be the case)?

May God bless those who have a desire to be blessings to others (even when they deem them undeserving).

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

God began a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.
Philippians 1:6 (NCV)

Have you ever felt like a failure? Don't worry. God isn't finished with you. His desire is to work with you today and everyday to bring you along towards perfection. Simply take your failures, your burdens, you times of selfish behavior and ask for forgiveness. Then ask Him to help you change whatever is in you that is causing you to fail. It might be pride. It might be fear of speaking out. It might be a whole host of other things. Just don't expect to be changed all at once because the majority of time we are changed little by little. The key is that we must be willing to allow God to help us change. And we must stay connected with Him through prayer and bible study. Then each day we'll grow a little closer to God and become a little less of a failure.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12 (NIV)

I woke up at 6am this morning with a burden for someone. I felt a deep desire to inquire about this person's soul. So I prayed for this person until the alarm went off at 6:30. I will make sure and take time out of my day today to speak to this person since that is what the Spirit is leading me to do.

The fact is that we're all called to share our faith and the good news of Jesus. How many will not have the Son, and therefore not have life eternal, because we were all too scared to broach the subject? The Bible teaches us to always be ready to share our faith. It also teaches us to do so gently, not judgmentally or in arguing fashion.

Don't be afraid to share Jesus with someone today. Talk about Him. Act like Him. Love others like Him. Show others the excitement of having the Son and having LIFE.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18 (NIV)

In today's culture that is all about self, we Christians are supposed to be different. We are to obey the two most important commandments, which are to love God with our whole being and to love our neighbor as ourselves. If everything is about us, then these first two commandments get thrown out the window.

It's easy to call ourselves Christians. Many people do. Then they go into the world and live like everyone else so that nobody can tell the difference. It's much harder to actually live as a Christian, obeying the great command to love while showing grace to all those around us.

There may be those out there that are hard for you to care about. And these people may not make living peacefully with them easy. They may antagonize you. They may talk about you. They may act ugly around you. But if you truly want the tag Christian to mean something, you'll have to react in a different way than they act. We must all try to live peaceably with others, showing them the love and forgiveness that our Heavenly Father has shown us.

This isn't always easy. But Jesus never said taking up our crosses would be easy. He just said to do it if we wanted to follow him.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27 (TNIV)

There is a difference in the peace that we get from the world and the peace we receive from Christ. The world's idea of peace is the absence of conflict. But there will always be conflict in a sinful world.

Jesus' gift of peace is what gets us through not only the good times, but also those times of conflict. When you have a sick child…when you're stressed over your job…when you aren't sure how the bills will get paid, these are times when we don't think about peace. That is, unless we seek it from the only one who can give it without any strings attached.

When speaking of this verse of scripture in his Explanatory Notes on the New Testament, John Wesley wrote these words.

"Lord, evermore give us this peace! How serenely may we pass through the most turbulent scenes of life, when all is quiet and harmonious within! Thou hast made peace through the blood of the cross."

This is the peace of Christ…when no matter what's going on outside, there is quiet and harmonious within. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not let them be afraid.

Do you know this kind of peace today? Do you truly feel that you'll be taken care of in a dangerous situation? Can you take the laughter or jabs or innuendos of unbelievers when you stand up for what's right or share Christ with them?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

As promised yesterday, I am spending another day on this particular passage. Yesterday we touched on the different kinds of service by the two sisters here. This morning I want to say that while the world needs to be filled with "Marthas" who are doers and who get things done, these Marthas must become "Marys" first.

What I mean is that we must begin at Jesus' feet. We must connect to Jesus to begin with and then come back to Him to reconnect on a regular basis. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus taking in what he had to say. She learned from him. She grew in him. She came to love him. In other words, she connected with him.

Many of us are "Marthas" in this world. We work in our churches. We help in ministries when asked. We clean up afterwards. But all of this is for not if we're not doing it for the right reason. Oswald Chambers wrote, "[We] slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him."

We can do and do and do for God. But if we forget to really get to know Him first and connect with Christ Jesus through things such as a quality prayer life and seeking Him out in Scripture, then it's all for nothing. Not only that, but sooner or later we'll wind up burning out in the process.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me."

But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)

We will look at this rich passage of Scripture over the next couple days. Today I would like to examine the kind of service going on here. I believe that both Martha and Mary were serving Jesus. Martha's kind of serving is more evident. It's what was expected of women in this day and age. The women were to show hospitality, which would basically mean being good hostesses. She took care of the physical needs of Jesus and his disciples. She was cooking dinner for them. She most likely prepared the house for them and checked on them from time to time. Martha was serving as a doer of the things that needed to be done.

Then there's Mary. She too is serving Jesus. Though you might not see sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning as service, she is doing something for Jesus that he so desperately needs. You see, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem (as verse 38 points out). He's not on his way to celebrate the Passover. He's not on his way to visit the city. He's on his way to die.

Remembering that though Jesus was fully divine…he was still also fully human (Maybe for me the hardest theological issue to understand). And as any human would need at a time like this, he needed a friend. He knew what was in store, and he most desired to enjoy his last visit with his friends. He needed someone to simply be there for him; to listen to him; to learn so that his legacy could be passed on. He needed a friend.

We think so much about how Jesus is there for us. But at this moment in history, he just needed someone to be there for him. And that's how Mary served Jesus.

Sometimes service requires physical labor. Sometimes it comes in just being there for somebody. And often times it lies somewhere in between.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

You will show me the way of life,
granting me the joy of your presence
and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 16:11 (NLT)

Over the past couple weeks I've spoken to Christians who are struggling and those who are doing really well. There's one thing that they've all had in common. They've all felt the presence of God, which brings them joy. I've had some share with me that their burdens are not as heavy now that Jesus is in their lives. I've known people to find far more riches in the good times with Jesus than before He came into their hearts.

The thing is this. Life is a struggle at times and a joy at times. Placing Jesus first in our lives, asking Him to come into our hearts and change us, gives our lives direction and the joy of His presence that far exceeds anything we can describe.

If Jesus is not showing you the way of life today, then ask Him to do so. Walk with Him. Talk with Him. Be with Him. And find the pleasures that come with living with Him now and forever.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'
Mark 7:15 (NIV)

Man or woman...it doesn't matter. What he or she eats...it doesn't matter. What's on the inside...Now that's what matters. Filthy mouths that spew venom cannot come from a clean loving heart. There may be mistakes made with the mouth, for as James says,"...no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." But when hateful things constantly come from this mouth, it means that the heart is filled with more selfishness and/or hate than love. On the other hand, a mouth that is constantly lifting people up means that the heart is filled with love. Which do you have?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)

We see many things in this world from the beauty of creation to the ugliness that we can make of God's creation. We also see struggles; ours and other people's.

But the fact is that none of these things will last forever. There will come a day when our eyes will be opened to unimagined beauty. We will experience things in a whole new way; a way that won't be troubling anymore.

We have a choice in life of whether or not to accept this future. When we place our hope and trust in Christ Jesus, coming into a relationship with God, we will be fixing our eyes on what is unseen, eternal and perfect. It's this hope that can get us through any temporary troubles that come our way.

Be blessed with the hope of salvation today as Christ abides in you through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works;
praise his unequaled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the ram's horn;
praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the LORD!

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150 (NLT)

What do you think the Psalmist could be getting at here? Huh?

How often do we praise the Lord throughout the day. I encourage you to seek ways of doing so through your prayers, your conversations and whatever other ways you can come up with. We are nothing without the Lord (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). So Give thanks today for what He's done for you and Praise His Name!

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

So, for the person who knows to do good and doesn't do it, it is a sin.
James 4:17 (HCSB)

James is telling us that it's not just those things that go against God's will that we do that are sin. Omission of things that God wants us to do is also a sin. Think about how many times you've neglected to do something that God would have wanted you to do. I'm afraid that when I do, I'll be spending a great deal of time asking for forgiveness. How about you?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Facebook (4) | Greg Hazelrig: Thought of the Day !!

Facebook (4) | Greg Hazelrig: Thought of the Day !!

Thought of the Day !!

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Acts 2:46-47 (NIV)

This is the early Church. They came together daily. They ate together. They sincerely cared about each other. They praised God. And more and more, people came and were added to their number because they were seen to have something others didn't. Do others see in you something that they do not have? If so, what is it? Is it good or bad, love or hate, faithfulness or hypocrisy? Christians can either turn people on to Christ or turn them off to Christ by the words they say and the way they live their lives. Which have you been doing lately?

In the love of Christ,
greg

Thought of the Day !!

Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.
James 1:27 (NLT)

We live in a world of "me, me, me". But we must shake off that attitude for something better. As we think about others, we honor God and will receive our own blessings in the ways that our Father decides to shower them on us.

In the love of Christ,
greg